Rudder construction



g J H. MCCUTCHEON RUDDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. l2 1924 www HTTOR/VYSJAMES HENRY T'JICCUTCHEON, GF .C'OLLEVII'IGJVCD, NTARIO, CANAEA.

RUBBER CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 12. 1924. Serial No. 692,379,

certain new and useful Improvements in` Rudder Constructions, of whichthe follow ing is the specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rudder constructions and theobject of the invention is to deviser a simple means whereby the tailshaft may be unshipped without unshipping the rudder.

A further object is to provide means for swinging the rudder rearwardlyabout a knuckle or joint in the rudder stock for permitting the removalof the propeller wheel and tail shaft complete without the necessity ofdetaching the former from the latter, and it consists essentially of arudder post carrying a rudder blade, and havingan orifice formed thereinso positioned that when the rudder blade is turned at right angles tothe propeller shaft, such orifice is in central alignment with thepropeller shaft, so that such shaft may be drawn out ward through theorifice for repair or replacement, as hereafter more particularlyexplained by the following specification.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my rudder showing it mounted upon thestern post of a ship. A

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View of the part shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational detail partly in section showing my rudderstock and the construction of the knuckle or joint thereon. The dottedlines show the lower portion of the stock to which the rudder isattached swung rearwardly for the purpose above described.

In the drawings like characters -of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure.

l indicates the stern post of a ship, provided with the usual stern tube2, contain ing the stern bearing 3 in which is mounted the tail shaft 4fcarrying the propeller 5.

6 is a shoe formed at the bottom of the stern post'l, in the forward endof which is located the step-bearing 7.

8 is the rudder stock which is journalled in the vicinity of its upperend in a collar bracket Q'carried by the stern post 1, and at its lowerend stepped into the bearing 7.

The rudder stock 8 is provided intermediately of its length with anolf-set 8".

10 is the rudder of the balanced type suitably secured to the rudderstock 8,.by straps A12, 18, le and 15, the rudder comprising the mainportion k10 and the counter balance 1l.

16 is an orifice which is formed partially in the 'counter balance 11and partially in the main portion 10of the rudder,v the conformation ofthe offset 8X of the .rudder stock being such that it will lie clear ofthe orifice 16.

17 is a filler plate fitting withinv the orifice 1G and secured inposition by a vertical strap 18, which is'secured atk 19 and 20 to thecounter balance 11. c j Y rlhe rudder stockv 8 is divided into upper andlower portions, the lower portion being secured to the rudder as abovedescribed, the joint being situated immediately above the rudder andbelow the collar bracket 9. 21 is a circular enlargement at the bottomof the upper portion of the stock, normally secured to thecircularyenlargement 22 at the top of thelower portion of the stock by means ofthe bolts'23; the rear faces of such enlargements 21 and 22 arealso-hinged together by the hinge 24 for a will hereinafter appear.

When it isv desired to withdraw the tail shaft for renewal or repair,all that itis necessary to do is to remove the ystrap 18 and the fillerplate 17, then swing the rudder hard over into a position at rightangles to the tail shaft or to the position shown by dotted rlines inFigure 2. When this is done, the orifice is in alignment with the tailshaft 4l, and is sufficiently large to permit of the free withdrawal ofthe tail shaft therethrough, with suflicient clearance. The tail shaftmay be replaced in the same manner and the filler plate 17 again appliedto the counter balance portion of the rudder.

When it is desired to remove the tail shaft and propeller wheel withoutdetaching the latter, it is only necessary to jack up the rudder untilits foot is unshipped from the bearing 7, yand then if the bolts 23 havebeen removed, to swing back the rudder about the hinge 24: until it isclear of the wheel, when the wheel and tail shaft can be readily removedtogether.

From this description it will be seen that l have devised a very simplemeans whereby a tail shaft may be easily removed from the ship withoutunshipping the rudder, and in purpose which addition have provided meanswhereby the rudder can be swung rearwardly about its jointed stock tofacilitate the removal of the propeller' wheel and tail shaft complete,without the necessity of completely unshipping the rudder.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a ship, the combination with the stern post and tail shaft, of arudder turnably mounted upon the stern post and provided with an oriticeadapted to be brought into alignment with the tail shailtl when therudder is turned at right angles to such shaft to permit the withdrawalof the shaft through the oritiee.

2. ln a ship, the combination with the stern post and tail shaft, of arudder stoelz, a rudder comprising a main portion and a couterbalance,an oi'iset portion formed in the stock, said rudder having an orificepositioned partly in the main portion and partly in the counterbalancethrough which the tail shaft may be drawn when the rudder is set atright angles thereto.

3. In a ship, the combination with stern post and tail sha-lit, or arudder stoelr, a rudder comprising a main portion and counterbalancecarried by the stock and having an oriiice formed therein through whichthe tail'shaft isy adapted to be drawn when the rudder is set at rightangles to the propeller shaft, a i'iller plate it'or s' h -lf la iorifice, and means for securing the iiller plate in position. y

4. ln a ship, the combination with the rudder stock, of a rudder mountedthereon, said stock being jointed immediately above the rudder,detachable means tor securing the `jointed portions of the stock intheir aligned position, means for hinging the portions of' the rudderstock together for permitting the rudder to be swung rearwardly upon theremoval or the detachable securing means.

5. ln' aship, the combination with a rudder stock jointed intermediatelyof its length, a rudder mounted' on the lower portion of the stock,coacting enlargements at the upper end orf the lower portion of thestock and at the lower end of the upper portion of the stock, saidenlargements being hinged together at their bach and detachable meansfor seein-ing the respective enlargements together.

ln a ship, the combination with a rudder stock, of a rudder mountedthereon, said stock being jointed immediately above the rudder,detachable means for securing the jointed portions of the stock in theiraligned position, means for hinging the portions ot' the rudder stocktogether for permitting the rudder to be swung rearwardly upon removalor vthe detachable securing means, said rudder having` a tail shaftreceiving orifice extending therethrough, and an ott? set on the lowerportieri of the stock adapted to clear the oriee in thel rudder.

7. In a ship, the combination with a rudder stock, or a rudder mountedthereon, said stock being jointed immediately above .t1 the jointedportions of the stock in their aligned position, means for hinging theportions or the rudder stock together for per-y mitting the rudder to beswung rearwardly upon removal of the detachabley securing means, saidrudder having a tail shaft receiving orifice extending therethrough, an

oiiiset on the lower portion of the stock adapted to clear the orilicein the rudder, and a detachable iller plate normally closing the oriiicein the rudder.

J AMES HENRY lMCCUTCHEOAN.

e rudder, detachable means for securing

